Dorsey’s season could be doomed by biceps tear

Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey could be lost for the season after tearing his left biceps in Friday’s practice.

The 49ers aren’t yet ruling Dorsey out while they consider options, such as making him their injured reserve/designated-for-return player. Defensive tackle Ray McDonald played much of last season with a partially torn biceps.

For now, Dorsey’s plight weakens a 49ers defense that already must make due without linebacker NaVorro Bowman (knee) until midseason, and possibly without Aldon Smith if he suspended to start the season.

Dorsey’s isn’t the first serious injury in camp, as No. 2 running back Kendall Hunter tore an anterior cruciate knee ligament in the previous Friday’s practice. Both Dorsey and Hunter are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after the season.

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Dorsey, who turned 29 on Friday, started every game last season after Ian Williams sustained an ankle fracture in a Week 2 loss at Seattle. Williams has yet to practice this training camp and is on the physically-unable-to-perform list while he recovers from four surgeries on his left ankle.

The 49ers current options at nose tackle include Mike Purcell and a handful of linemen who split time at defensive tackle: Tony Jerod Eddie, Quinton Dial and Demarcus Dobbs, who missed the past few days of practice while tending to a personal mater.

“Tony Jerod Eddie plays that nose and that end at a very high level as well,” Harbaugh said, noting how Jerod Eddie and Dobbs are especially ascending players.

The 49ers open the exhibition season Thursday at Baltimore. A joint practice Friday has been canceled because of collective-bargaining-agreement rules, though the Ravens will host the 49ers for practices the following three days.

Dorsey got injured less than an hour into Friday’s twilight session, perhaps during a goal-line drill. Purcell replaced him on the first-string unit.

McDonald, defensive tackle Justin Smith and cornerback Tramaine Brock have not practiced most of this week because of undisclosed injuries.

As for the IR/designated-for-return possibility, the 49ers didn’t wait long to use it last season, applying it to linebacker Nick Moody after he broke his right hand in the season opener.